Queensland judge in the spotlight for being 'too soft'

A Queensland magistrate has been praised by criminals for the "right approach" and criticized by police who accuse her of handing down lenient sentences.

Magistrate Joan White is reportedly a favourite with regular court criminals, and authorities are concerned the soft rulings could be fuelling the crime rate.

The spotlight is now being shone on Magistrate White's sentencing history after she released on bail alleged killer Mark Vincent Dayney, despite opposition from police.

Dayney faced court last month for allegedly bludgeoning to death Mark Spencer, who had responded to an ad on website Craigslist.

The accused was on bail on rape charges at the time he allegedly committed the murder.

Magistrate White's decision to grant Dayney bail attracted widespread criticism.

But serial offender Robert Power believes she has the right approach.

"All I know is my lawyer said this is the judge you want to get today," Power told A Current Affair.

Power has a 30-year criminal history. The day A Current Affair caught up with him, he was in court for stealing and unlawful possession of a restricted drug.

He was fined just $450.

"There are some judges out there that are pretty harsh, but she's a fair lady," Power said.

In another incident that made headlines, Magistrate White let a motorcyclist off without penalty after he failed to stop for police, forcing them to pursue him.

Jade Marley Taewa fell off his bike during the chase and threw his helmet at police before running away on foot.

Officers arrested Taewa six months later when he was found sitting in a garage smoking a bong.

Magistrate White discharged Taewa on the charge of failing to stop and fined him $400 for the remaining charges of obstructing police, wilful damage, possessing drug utensils and contravening a direction.

A driver who fails to come to a complete halt at a stop sign is fined $330.

She said Taewa did stop for police because he fell off his bike.

"Whether it's intentional or not, he's stopped hasn't he?" she said.

A police appeal saw Taewa resentenced to six months in prison for failing to stop and disqualified him from driving for two years. The jail sentence was suspended. Taewa was also resentenced to suspended prison terms for 14 days for wilful damage and fined him $100 for possessing drug utensils.

Meanwhile James Anthony Dyer was a given probation after being charged with two counts of being a public nuisance after threatening to bash a neighbour and abusing a hotel employee.

Magistrate White changed the penalty after Dyer told her about transport difficulties.

"Yeah it was better for our situation," the father-of-eight told A Current Affair.

Dyer's partner Joanne Marie McCauley is singing praises of the judge.

"I think she's a great judge, she does the job well," Ms McCauley said.

"Thank you very much your honour, thank you."